This is one of my all-time favorite poems especially because Nikki Giovanni is one of my favorite poets. To me, this poem is beautiful because the narrator distinguishes between being lonely and alone. She insists that she’s not lonely since her lover left but at the end she acknowledges that she is “all alone.” I think this poem has a simplicity that allows the imagery to shine through and that’s another reason that I love it.
I’m not lonely
sleeping all alone
you think i’m scared
but i’m a big girl
i don’t cry or anything
I have a great
big bed to roll around
in and lots of space
and i don’t dream
bad dreams like i used
to have that you
were leaving me
anymore
Now that you’re gone
i don’t dream
and no matter
what you think
i’m not lonely
sleeping
all alone
-Nikki Giovanni
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